Piston ring slotting machine



July 16, 1946. H. M. SCARFF 2,404,146

PISTON RING SLOTTING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 16, 1944 5 -Shee1'.s-Sheeo 1 R311. V Lnuenfor; HowoMlTScarff July 16, 1946. SCARFF: Q 7 2,404,146 I PISTON RING' SLO'ITING MACHINE.

Filed Aug. 16, 1944 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 igi- IhuenToh Harold Mboarff .BgWw

July 16, 1946. M SCARFF 2,404,146

PISTON RING SLOTTING MACHINE Fiiled Aug. 16, 1944 s Sheets-Sheep s i? MQL A? Harold MScarff n B [Zfi 5 July 16, 1946. HY M, SC RF} 2,404,146

PISTON RING SLOTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1944 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inuenfor Harold M. Scarff I Juiy 156, 1946. H. M. scARFF ,1

' PISTQN RING SLOTTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Inurflor Patented July 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Q Harold M. Scarff, Muskegon, Mich., assign'or to Muskegon Piston Ring Company, Muskegon, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 16, 1944, Serial No. 1549.707

1 This invention relates to a piston ring slotting machine- Piston rings used in the lower groove or grooves of pistons in internal combustion engines are in many cases provided with slots cut by saws, such slots being located between the opposed flat sides of the rings and extending their outer curved bearing faces to the inner sides thereof. The slots are spaced from each other around the ring and in the circumference of a ring a plurality of the slots are cut, the number of which may vary. The present invention is directed to a machine by means of'w'hich a number of piston rings may be simultaneously slotted, one slot after another, until all of the slots in the rings are completed, the processed rings removed and replaced by others, and during such time of removal and replacement a second plurality of rings be undergoing the slotting process. This provides a very rapid production machine and one with which the slotting operation is performed rapidly and accurately so that with the machine andone operator therefor, large quantity production is obtained at low cost.

Another feature and object and purpose of the present invention is to provide the machine with at least two slot cutting or sawing units either of which may be used in slotting the rings. The other is idle and is conveniently located for access so that the cutting saws may be sharpened or replaced if necessary, the work which the machine is doing not being interrupted. This makes it possible for the machine to be continued in production operation all of the time without need for it to be idle in the event that a saw or saws have teeth broken therefrom orbecome dull and need resharpening.

Many other novel constructions and useful results coming therefrom will be apparent upon an understanding of the invention had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section and partial side elevation, the section being on the plane of line 2-2 of Fi 3. V

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially-on the plane of line 33 of Fig.2, looking in a downward direction.

Fig. 4 is a .fragmentary enlarged vertical section on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the plane of line 5'5 of Fig. 2, lookingin a downward direction.

Fig. 61'is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sec- 6 Claims. (01. 90.15.1)

- 2 r 1 tion, showing the mounting of one ofthe ring arbor carrying units and the manner in which the ring arbor and rings thereon'are detachably con-: nected.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section through a piston'ring' showing the-manner in which the slots are cut therethrough, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of theelectrical controls used in connection with the machine.

Like reference-characters refer to like parts .in

the different figures of the drawings.

upper peripheral portions has an outwardly extending annular ledge resting upon and movable over the upper edgesof the ring 3. (Fig. 6). The table at its upper side is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending handles 9 which may be grasped to turnthe table about its vertical axis of movement.

The turntable .is adapted to occupy two positions and be releasably held in such positions. A locking bolt It (Fig. 4) is normally pressed outwardly by a spring H to enter an opening l2 in the underside of the ledge "I, said bolt It being mounted vertically underneath the ledge on the support 3. There are two of the bolt receiving openings [2 (Fig. 3) thereby governing the two positions in which the turntable is held. The bolt is manually retracted by means of a short horizontal stub shaft I3, having gear teeth at its innerend and engaging with a rack atone side of the pin l0, and with a handle l4 connected with the shaft for manual operation to retract the bolt and lift it out of the recess 12 with which it is engaged.

At diametrically opposed places on the table vertical openings are made therethrough forthe mounting of two sleeves [5 which are rotatable therein'and which are flanged at their upper ends to bear against adjacent upper portions of the turntable. At the lower end of each of the sleeves IS an indexing wheel It is permanently secured to each oftheindexing wheels l6 and j extends below the lower side thereof.

In the upper end portion of the sleeve I a ver- 1 tical stem 19 of a ringholding arbor is adapted to be inserted. At the upper end of the stem a fixed collar 25 is formed as a part of the arbor, being notched at its lower side to engage with a 1 key 2| at the upper end of the sleeve l5 to hold the arbor against rotation withrrespect to the sleeve J5 on which it is mounted. Above the col-f lara plurality of piston rings 22 which are .to

be'slottedare located in superimposed relation I shafts 40. the detail not being shown as it is old I .10..

. driven bytheshaft's 38 through gearing indicated and clamped with their parting's' at. one side f closed between the upper side ofithecollar 2i) and a removable ring collar 24. A stem '23 ex- V tends'upwardly from the collar 24 through the l piston rings and is provided at its upper end porrecess 26in a' side'thereof in which the u per 1. endioffla spring actuated retaining dog 21 is adapted to belreceived to releasably retain the 3 arbor inplace; i. The dog2'i is pivotally mounted between its ends and at its lower endis provided tion with a slot to receive a key therethrough I f 1 which bears with a considerable wedging force 5 1 against "the upper side of 'the collar 24 tohold the rings'in closed clamped position. The structure of the arbor need not'ibe entered into in de-" 'tail as it is shown in the pending application, 6

1 -Serial.No;503,097,' filed September 20, 1943. I,

. 131 The stem il9'near its'lowerend has a notch or with an 'angularly disposed tail piece, as shown V in Fig.6: A rod 28 passes freely upward through 1 thindexing'wheellB and the lower part of the sleeve 15, andhas a beveled :upperpnd bearing 7 against the inclined lower side. of the tail piece 'offthedog 21'." A lever29 is pivotally mounted between'its' ends on a bracket 36 depending from thJSlIpp01t, 3; andyat its inner end N ls-Provided;

with afiprojection g3! :whichbears againgstthe lower end of rod 23. A downward push upon the" outer end of, rod 29 (Figs. 2 and 6) moves the rod 1 pwardly; and shifts the, dog 21 toa position :to release the arbor so that it can be removed. Qn replacing an arbor which has been removed with anew arbor loaded with unslotted piston rings, the lower end of the stem l9 engages the I upperend portion of the dog 21, pressing at its one sideuntil notch 26 ha reached a position to receive the upper end of the dog, it being" end of each of which a belt pulley 36 (preferably grooved as shown, Figs. l and 2), is mounted for rotation. Between the ends of each pair of arms 33 and35 a housing'3l of the form shown in 3 is located. A shaft 38 connected with each belt} pulley 35 extends downwardly through the arms of the head 35 into'eachhousing 31. 'The vertical axes of shafts 38 are coincident substantially with the axes of'pins 39 (Fig. 2) projecting :upwardly from arms 33. The pins. 39 extend into openings in the lower sides of the housings i 31 0' that, said housing may be rocked about the :lcommon vertical. axes of shafts38;and-pin.s 39. '7 5 A saw arbor shaft 40 is mounted in each housing extending through lugs 54' projecting from the Said springs 'under tension nor-, .mally tend to pull the housings in a clockwise idirection'(Fig. 3) about the axes of the shafts 38 arms 4T extend outwardly :(Fhgs. through which a shaft 48 extends. A pinion-49 is'at the lower end of the shaft below the lower 31, and'extends below it, the axes of each of said shafts being offset from the axis of its associated shaft .38. Each saw arbor shaft at its lower end carries a plurality of thin saws 4|, spaced from each other, there being one of the saws for each of the rings 22, carried by a ring holding arbor. It is, of course, to be understood that the saws 4| are releasablyv connected with their arbor and well known. The saw arbor shafts 40 are at'42, in Fig.2.

,An'elect-ric motor 43 is supported on a suitable bracketsupport 44 'at the upper side of the supporting. casting I, the shaft of the motor being equipped. with a grooved driving pulley 45,

around which and theadjacent pulley 36 endless lbelts 45 are adapted to be placed for driving the saws continuously, thatis, the saws on one arbor shaft 43. One, of the pulleys, asshown in Figsl, will be driven and the other idle. But when the pulleys and saws are interchanged in position, as later'desoribed, the belts 46 are removed from the pulley 36 which has been driven and are placed around the other pulley 36 for the .driving of itand the slotting saws 4| associated therewith. v 7

From each of the housings 31, upper and lower arm 41, and the upperend of the shaft is shaped to receive a wrench for turning it. A curved arm 56- is adjustably mounted at a side of eachhousing 31; below the lower arm 41 on suitable ways 5| (Fig. l) with bolts as shown for securing the arm in any position to which adjusted longitudinally of said ways. The adjustment is effected by releasing the bolts and turning the shaft 43, each arm being I provided with rack teeth 7 (Fig. 3) with which an associated Pinion 43 en--' gages. Each arm at its free end is provided .with

"a roller 52. Two tension springs 53 are connected each at one end to the upper sleeve extension 34, and at their opposite ends to rods adjustably housings 3?.

and pins 39. V

r The unit described and which ismounted upon the central sleeves 32, 34 with their outwardly extending arms 33 and 35 may be turned as a whole aboutthe vertical axis of the sleeveportion 32 which is'within the bearing sleeve 2, and

be held in either of two positions by a spring actuated lock bolt 55. In one position one gang of saws will be over the inner portion of the turntable 5 and will be driven by the motor 43. The other gang of saws will be diametrically opposite and back of the main'supporting casting I (Fig.

2) accessible for inspection, repair, removing and replacement. 7 g

The rollers 52 drawn inwardly by springs 53 pass through the slots in the sleeve extension 34 (Fig. 3) and normally bear against a cam 56 .st the upper end of a vertical shaft 51 which extends through the lower sleeve 32 and is',r0- tatably mounted at its lower end on a horizontal portion la of the main casting frame (Fig. 2). The unit which is idle may be held at an outer position in any suitable manner so that the spring 53 associated with it is maintained ina stretched condition, with the roller 52. .out.o f engagement with the cam'56 as shown inFig.' 3; Witha roller 1 and 2),

ment with the shaft '6'2is a second shaft (not numbered, Fig. '5) having a pulley driven by a belt 60 which in turn is driven by an electric motor 51 mounted at the back of the machine. Between the shaft 62 and its aligned shaft is a clutch 6 3 (Fig. 5) so that though the motor 6| may be'continuously operating, shaft 62-is driven only when the clutch -at-63 is connected.

The index wheel 16 of the-sleeve l5 which carries a loadedarbor of ring'swhich are to be acted upon by the saws has a locking dog 64 engaging successively in the notches ['1 to hold the sleeve 15 and the rings associated therewith from rotative movement while the slot sawing takes place. The dog 64 is guided in a sleeve guide 65 (Fig. 5) and normally pressed outward by a spring 66. 'A lever 51 is pivotall'y'mounted between its ends and connected with the dogat one end, the other endcarrying a roller 68 bearing upon a collar filfixed on and rotatable with shaft'51 and which has a, projection 10 at one side, so that with each rotation of the shaft 51, lever 61 is actuatedto withdraw the locking dog 64 from a notch H in the index wheel 16 with which it has been engaged, as shown in Fig. 5.

A second cam 1| (Fig. 5) is secured to the shaft 51 below the collar 69 bearing against which is a roller 12 mounted between the ends of a lever arm 13 pivotally mounted at one end on a lug 14 extending inwardly from a side of the main supporting frame I. A rod 15 passes freely through the other end of the lever arm 13 and has nuts at its outer end between which and the arm 13 a coiled spring 16 is located. The opposite end of the rod 15 is pivotally connected to the outer end of an 'arm 11 which, as shown in Fig. 2, is located below a part of the main casting support and is connected by a vertical shaft 82 with a second arm 18, the two arms 11 and 18 providing in effect a bell crank lever. A tension spring 16a (Fig. 5) acts upon the arm 11 to normally pull it to the left. At the outer end of arm 18 a spring actuated finger 19, with a dog 80 thereon projecting laterally, is pivotally mounted, the spring acting to turn the arm clockwise (Fig. 5) for the dog to ride against the peripheral edge of the index wheel [6 and at times enter the notches l1 therein. The dog is limited in its movement by an adjustable stop provided by the screw 8| (Fig. 5).

-A finger 83 has its free end portion normally interposed in the path of movement of the pin l8 extending downwardly from the inner index wheel l6. Finger 83 is secured at its opposite end to a short vertical rock shaft 84 between which and a, horizontal shaft 85 extending through a side of the machine gearing connections, as indicated at 85, are interposed, whereby the movement of the finger 83from its full line to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 rocks the shaft 85 a limited distance. At the outer end of 1 the shaft 85 a sector-like weighted block 81 is' 1). When the pin 18 engages against the finger 83 in the movement of the indexing wheel 16 to 6 g 7 from the full "line to dotted line position shown in Fig.- 5, the member 81 is lifted to a position above a'switch lever 89 (Fig. 1) the member' 88 passing thereby, whereby when it is released and the weight of the member 81 causes it-to return to its initial position, the lower side ofthe part 88 engages the switch lever '89 to turn it as is evident, said lever'89 returning to initial position after release. v The switch lever 89 is a part of the control mechanismfor the clutch 83 for its connection and disconnection through a fluid pressure operated cylinder and piston 90 and 9|. --Said cylinder 90 is located at the back of the machine (Fig. 5) and the piston rod connected with a lever 92, the movement of which shifts the :mov-

'able member of clutch fi3- into or out of engages. ment with the driven cl utch members. Cylinder ing '94 is a valve which selectively openseither of the pipes 93, at the-same time closing the other. Associated therewith isahousing 96 which carries an-electrical appliance, for exam-' 'ple, a solenoid construction connected withfthe valve,- with electric wires 91 in one of which a manual switch 98 is interposed, and other wires "99 in which the switch controlled by the lever 89 isinterposed. The detail'of this construction is not set forth as it is not in itself new and is known to those skilled in the electrical-field.

In operation, with the motor 43 continuously running, therefore driving the saws 41 at the front of the machine;"and with the motor 61 continuously running but with clutch 63 discon- 'nec'te'd, an arbor loaded with rings 22 is moved into processing position as indicated'in dotted lines inFig; 1. The switch at 98 is manually closed which effects a now of liquid pressure to the proper end of the cylinder 90 to move the piston and the rod 9| and connect the clutch at withdraws the housing 31 and the saws associated therewith. I

During this time that such withdrawal has taken place the projection 10 on the collar 69 comes to the roller 68 and operates lever 61 to withdraw the locking dog 54 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and thereby release the indexing wheel with which it has been engaged. The cam 11 moves to release the lever arm 13 which will then permit the movement of rod 15 and lever 11 by spring 16a counterclockwise (Fig. 5) so that the dog will move in a counterclockwise direction about the indexing wheel I6 from one notch [1 to the next one and upon cam 1| moving still farther so that it draws the rod 15 and arm 11 to the right (Fig. 5) the indexing wheel will be moved one step to bring the next succeeding notch in position to be engaged by the released dog 54.

This operation is repeated until the indexing wheel has made a complete revolution. With each repetition the osition of the rings 22 is which the pin is connected and-moves said finger changed so that succeeding slots. I00 are cut through theri'ngs until the final slotis out which and the reversal of the fluid pressure movement to the opposite end'of the cylinder 90, the piston rod 9| in its return movement operatingto'disconnect the clutch 63 and stop the machine when a plurality of the ring castings havebeen completely processed. 1 J 'The turntable5 is then released by; pushing down upon the handle I4 and is turned through 180,as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, to bring the arborloaded with unprocessed rings, which previously was ,at thefront of' the-turntable, into position to be slotted. The switch at 98 is manuallv closed and the clutch 6 3 reengaged for repetition of the cycle described- While the second plurality of ring castings is being slotted,

' .those which have been processed are removed by manuallyoperating lever 29 to free the arbor of processed rings, it being replaced by another 3 arbor, loaded withunprocessed rings. Thisoper-r ation is repeated. indefinitely, it being necessaryfor the machine operator merely to remove the arbors carrying processedrings and replace with arborsloaded with unprocessed rings, un-

lock and turn the turntable between the succes-- sive automatic stoppings of the machine, and close the switch for connecting clutch 63 atthe 1 times, after the machine has been stopped to 1 cause it to again operate; r

The construction described is practical and effective 1 and with it in practice ve y high quantity production of the slotted. oil rings is obtained. 'As previously mentioned no stopping of the ma- 1 chine operation is required for reconditioning i of the slotting saws orv -their, replacement. The turntable havingtwo stages, one for loading with ;completes the process on all of the rings carried I by the arbori; It is at this time that pin l8 'oper ates'against the, finger 83 and, moves theswitch lever 89: as previously described, causing'a change Qof the position of theifluid pressure control valve vertical driven shaft extending into and partly through said support,'a-cam at theupper end of the shaft, two housingsmounted on said support for rocking movement-each about a vertical aXis, a cam follower on each housing to bear against said cam, a saw arborshaft mounted to turn about a vertical axis carried by each housing and, extending therebelow, each saw arbor at its lower portion carrying a plurality o f spaced horizontal saws; said arbor shaft being; offset from the, axis about which the'housing is rocked, andmeans'for driving said saw arbor shafts, said driving means being in a fixed position and adapt 'ed to drive one ofsaid saw arbor shafts when unprocessed rings vandthe,otherstagethe place Iclaim: j i

1. In a machine of the class described,-a hori- I zontal substantially. ring-like support, a horizontal, turntable mounted within: said support and extending over the upper side and bearing 1 thereon, means for mounting said turntable to turn about a vertical axis, two sleeves rotat- 1 ably mounted upon and extending vertically through said turntable inside said support, a

r P atwhichthey are slotted; providesfor a rapid 3 continuous quantityzproduction. The invention 1 has proven'very successful in practical operation. It is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms '1 of structure coming within their scope.

piston ring carrying arbor having a downwardly f extending stem to pass into the upper end portion" of each sleeve, said jstem having a notch in a side thereof, a spring actuateddog mounted 'on each sleeve to enter said notchf at one end 1 1 of thefdog, a rod in each sleeve having 'acam upper end mounted lengthwise of the lowerporsaid dog at its lower end having a cam edge to tion of .saidsleeve and extending therebelow,

engage the 1camend of the rod, a lever pivotally mountedbetween its ends and-carried by said support at one end, extending'underneath either of 1 said rods in a, predetermined'position of the turn table, whereby one of said rods may be 'moved upwardly on operation of the lever to disengage said do'gfromfsaid arbor stem; f

j. 2. In"a;machine.ofith iclass described;alsupg h port'.-'mounted to turn: about a; vertical: axis,:a:'

said support is in one position and the other of said saw arbor shafts when the support is; turned about a vertical axis to another position. o

3. A constructionhaving theelem'ents defined in claim ,2, and means for mounting: a plurality of horizontally located piston ,ring castings ,;in superimposed relation one i against the, Obheriand clamped together in a'position for engagement'by the saws of the driven saw arbor shaft, saidsaws being moved inwardly to'saw ;s1ots throughthe piston ring castingsv and then outwardly to disengage therefrom through the rocking of the housing which carries said shaft controlled by said cam, and means controlled by said first-mentioned vertical shaft for periodically turning said piston rings about a central vertical axis a preselected distance at the times'that the saws have i housing which carries said shaft controlledby said cam, and means controlled by said first mentioned vertical shaft for periodically turning said "piston rings'about a central vertical axisoa preselected distance at the times that the saws'have been moved away from said castings, combined with means for automatically stopping said vertical driven shaft from rotation after saidpi'ston rings have been turned by stepby step movements so as to saw a plurality of equally spaced slots'throughsaid'rings 'therearound. r 7' A machine for slotting piston rings comprising, a support, a second support mounted on the first support'to be turned about a vertical axis,

housings 7 each other, each mounted upon thesecond supsubstantially diametrically opposite port to rock about a vertical axis spaced from the axis of the second support, a'vertical saw arbor shaft mounted on each housing and extending'below it, each saw arbor shaft at'its lower end portion being adapted to carry a plurality of spaced horizontal saws, a driven shaft mounted vertically in each'housin'g and about the axis of which the housing is rocked, driving connections between said vertical shafts and the saw arbor shafts, a; driving means mounted upon the first support adapted to have selective connection with .said. vertical shafts,ione at a timejsaid second .support beingturnable about itsvertical axis of 'rotation tolvbring either jofssaidshafts into pos'ition for connection with thedriving means, a driven vertical shaft mountedupon the first sup- 'port and ext d nto t esec nd i e ti a 7 ing an axis substant a ly; coinci ent .iw th i heiverfirst support to be turned about a vertical axis,

housings substantially diametrically opposite each other each mounted upon the second support to rock about a vertical axis, spaced from the axis of the second support, a vertical saw arbor shaft mounted on each housing and extending below it,

10 tation to bring either of said shafts into position for connection with the driving means, a driven vertical shaft mounted upon the first support and extending into the second support having an axis substantially coincident with the vertical axis about which said second support'is turnable, a cam on said last mentioned shaft, a cam follower on each housing adapted to bear againstthe cam,

each saw arbor shaft at its lower'end portion being adapted to carry a plurality of spaced horizontal saws, a driven shaft mounted vertically in each housing and about the axis of which the housing is rocked, driving connections between said vertical shafts and thesaw arbor shafts, a driving means mounted upon the first support adapted to have selective connection with said vertical shafts, one at a, time, said second support being turnable about its vertical axis of romeans normally drawing said rollers into engagement with the cam whereby on rotation of the last mentioned shaft a housing is rocked to shift the position of the saw arbors and the saws there-,

on, a vertically positioned piston ring arbor having a plurality of piston rings located horizontally thereon in superimposed relation, rotative means for carrying said piston rings to a position to be processed by the saws'on rocking movement of the housing carrying them toward adjacent sides of the piston rings, said saws disengaging from the piston rings on continuation of the rocking movement carrying them away from the piston rings, and means to turn said piston rings a predetermined distance to present another portion of said rings to the saws, said turning occurring when the saws are away from the rings.

HAROLD M. SCARFF. 

